Women's Guide to Household Emergencies [antikvár]

Piumbing. emergencies 1 Water-supply shutofF Whether you need make only a simple plumbing repair, or whether you are faced with a genuine emergency, such as a burst pipe, you must first shut off the water supply. Right now, while you have no plumbing problem, would be an excellent time to learn exactly which shutoff valve controls your home's water supply. After you have located the valve, tag it. If there is an emergency and the water must be shut off, you will know which valve to turn. Emergency Page 1 Water-supply shutoff 3 2 Burst water pipes 4 3 Minor pipe leaks 5 4 Frozen pipes 6 5 Clogged drains 7 6 Items lost down drain 8 7 Clogged toilet 9 8 Toilet flush-tank problems 10 9 Problems with hot-water systems 12 10 Water pump failure 13 11 Replacing a faucet washer 14 In most homes the main shutofF valve is located in the basement. Look for a pipe leading through the basement wall from the outside or for a pipe coming up through the foundation floor, usually near the water meter. If this pipe has a valve on it, it is probably the main shutoff valve. In homes equipped with wells and water pumps the main supply pipe leads from the pump into the water-storage tank. Any valve leading from the tank to the house piping is most likely the main water shutoff. Apartments generally have their water-supply systems controlled at a central basement location. Should a plumbing emergency occur, you will have to call the building superintendent. If your apartment is the type equipped with individual water shutoff, have the superintendent show you the valve's location. Once you have located the valve that appears to be the main water shutoff, experiment by turning on a faucet somewhere in the house. Turn off the main water-supply valve; the faucet should stop running almost immediately. Many modern plumbing installations have individual shutoff valves for each faucet or fixture. These